The BCSO Sheriff defends his decision to honor deputies involved in a fatal case.

The BCSO Sheriff defends his decision to honor deputies involved in a fatal case.

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Updated: 6:42 PM MDT May 19, 2016

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WEBVTT TONIGHT THE SHERIFF EXPLAINS TO TARGET 7'S NANCY LAFLIN. WHY. REPORTER: SEPTEMBER, 15, 2015. SOUTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE. >> THERE'S AN OLD MAN KNOCKING ON MY DOOR GOING CRAZY. REPORTER: A FRIGHTENED WOMAN CALLS 911. >> HE'S SCREAMING AND YELLING AND KNOCKING ON MY DOOR AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS. I'M HERE WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER ME AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER ARE AT MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE. CAN YOU PLEASE SEND SOMEBODY RIGHT AWAY. REPORTER: SHE TOLD THE DISPATCHER AN ELDERLY MAN, COVERED IN BLOOD, WAS POUNDING ON HER DOOR. INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT MAN WAS 88-YEAR-OLD FIDENCIO DURAN. FAMILY MEMBERS TOLD US HE WAS DISTRAUGHT AFTER HIS WIFE OF MORE THAN 60 YEARS HAD DIED DEPUTIES SAY WHEN THEY ARRIVED, DURAN HAD A KNIFE. THAT THEY TRIED TO TALK HIM DOWN FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS IN SPANISH. AND ENGLISH. ON BELT TAPE RECORDERS. YOU CAN HEAR DEPUTIES TALKING. >> HE WANTS A 43 ONE BY COP. HE'S ASKED US TO SHOOT HIM. REPORTER: DEPUTIES SAY WHEN MR. DURAN DIDN'T DROP HIS KNIFE, SENT IN A MUZZLED K-9 AND FIRED PEPPER BALLS. >> DROP THE KNIFE DROP THE KNIFE, PUT IT DOWN [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> DROP THE KNIFE. REPORTER: FOR WEEKS, DURAN WAS IN THE HOSPITAL. DURING THAT TIME ON OCTOBER 5, SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES WROTE A LETTER OF COMMENDATION, PRAISING THE DEPUTIES ON SCENE SAYING THEY KEPT THE PUBLIC OUT OF HARMS WAY. TODAY THE SHERIFF SAYS THAT LETTER WAS WRITTEN PRIOR TO MR. DURAN PASSING AWAY. >> THIS IS A COMPLEX AND VERY DYNAMIC CASE. WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WE SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A SAYING OF FAMILY FIRST. REPORTER: DURAN DIED 10 DAYS AFTER THE SHERIFF SIGNED THE LETTER OF COMMENDATION. AN AUTOPSY SHOWED MR. DURAN'S DEATH WAS RULED A HOMICIDE. HIS FAMILY HAS FILED A WRONGFUL

BCSO Commendations

The BCSO Sheriff defends his decision to honor deputies involved in a fatal case.